2020 Democratic Presidential Nominee Weekly Power Rankings - July 24, 2019

This list looks at who I believe currently has the best chance of winning the 2020 Democratic Party nomination for President. Only notable individuals who have announced they are running or have formed an exploratory committee are included. I am not a political expert, so don’t take this too seriously. Feel free to provide feedback.


Notes for This Week:

CNN will host the second Democratic primary debates next week, and they did a live draw last Thursday to decide the line-ups for the two-night event. The breakdown looks a bit more even this time around, with the key match-ups being Round 2 of Biden vs. Harris and Warren vs. Sanders in the battle for progressive votes.

1. Joe Biden

Previous Ranking: 1 (-)
Credentials: Vice President of the United States (2009–2017); U.S. Senator from Delaware (1973–2009)

2. Elizabeth Warren

Previous Ranking: 2 (-)
Credentials: U.S. Senator from Massachusetts (2013–Current); Assistant to the President for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (2010–2011); Congressional Oversight Panel Chair for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (2008–2010)
Notes: On Monday, Warren wrote an article about an impending economic crash and how to stop it.

3. Kamala Harris

Previous Ranking: 3 (-)
Credentials: U.S. Senator from California (2017–Current); Attorney General of California (2011–2017); District Attorney of San Francisco (2004–2011)
Notes: Harris introduced legislation to decriminalize marijuana on a federal level. On a strange note, fellow candidate Tusli Gabbard called out Harris alone as not qualified for the Presidency because of her temperament and lack of foreign policy experience. Gabbard's claim about temperament was in relation to Harris' attack on Biden during the first debate. However, I seem to recall her randomly going after Tim Ryan in a similar way.

4. Bernie Sanders

Previous Ranking: 4 (-)
Credentials: U.S. Senator from Vermont (2007–Current); U.S. Representative from Vermont (1991–2007); Mayor of Burlington, Vermont (1981–1989)
Notes: There had been some controversy over the fact that Sanders has been pushing for a $15 federal minimum wage, but that his campaign was not meeting that same standard. Sanders has since created the first unionized campaign workforce and negotiated a $15 minimum wage for all employees.

5. Pete Buttigieg

Previous Ranking: 5 (-)
Credentials: Mayor of South Bend, Indiana (2012 — Current)
Notes: Buttigieg got some conspiracy press coverage when his interview with a  country radio station was not aired.

6. Beto O'Rourke

Previous Ranking: 6 (-)
Credentials: U.S. Representative from Texas (2013–2019); El Paso City Council (2005-2011)

7. Cory Booker

Previous Ranking: 7 (-)
Credentials: U.S. Senator from New Jersey (2013-Present); Mayor of Newark, NJ (2006-2013); Newark City Council (1998-2002)
Notes: Booker showed off his nerd cred by attending San Diego Comic-Con this past weekend.

8. Julian Castro

Previous Ranking: 8 (-)
Credentials: U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (2014-2017); Mayor of San Antonio (2009-2014)

9. Amy Klobuchar

Previous Ranking: 9 (-)
Credentials: U.S. Senator from Minnesota (2007-Present)

10. Andrew Yang

Previous Ranking: 10 (-)
Credentials: Entrepreneur

Honorable Mentions

Michael Bennet, U.S. Senator from Colorado
Steve Bullock, Governor of Montana
Bill De Blasio, Mayor of New York
John Delaney, Former U.S. Representative from Maryland
Tulsi Gabbard, U.S. Representative from Hawaii
Kirsten Gillibrand, U.S. Senator from New York
Mike Gravel, Former U.S. Senator and U.S. Representative from Alaska
John Hickenlooper, Former Governor of Colorado
Jay Inslee, Governor of Washington
Seth Moulton, U.S. Representative from Massachusetts
Tim Ryan, U.S. Representative from Ohio
Joe Sestak, Former U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania
Tom Steyer, Billionaire
Marianne Williamson, Motivational Speaker & Self Help Author

Let me know what you think about my rankings! Leave a comment below.